Stop-motion for knitting-machines.



PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

. TUSTIN. STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

'APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 30,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. W. TUSTIN. STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED M41140, 1904.

" 2 sums-sum .2.

PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

v YNVENLZOR inc. 790,604. 1

Patented May 93, 1905.

PATENT. OFFICE.

THOMAS W. TUSTIN, OF HOFFMAN, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOP-MOTION FbRKNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 790,604, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed March 30, 1904:. Serial No. 200,671.

Be it known that I, THoMAs W. TUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoffman, Lehigh county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stop-Motions for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to stop-motionsfor knitting-machines, and more particularly to that class in which the bobbins are fixed in relation to the rotating parts of the machine, although not entirely confined to that particular construction, as the same can be used on machines wherein the bobbins are made to ro tate around the needles.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the class described whereby the machine is stopped whenever the yarn or thread becomes caught on the bobbin, where it becomes taut from any cause, or is snarled or tangled in any way. It also provides a mechanism, for stopping the machine whenever there is a knot, bur, or other defect in the yarn or thread which it would be undesirable to permit to pass to the needles and be knit in the garment-or where any other obstructions pass from the bobbin toward the needles or where the supply of thread or yarn becomes suddenly exhausted or loose ends occur in the winding of the yarn on the bobbin, my device being so constructed and operated that the stopping of the machine takes place before the obstruction or loose end can reach the needles and, in cases of obstruction, before the breaking of the yarn ensues.

A further object of my invention is to provide a stop-motion for knitting-machiries that shall be operated automatically and one in which simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction are combined with durability and effectiveness in operation.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, and although it will be obvious that certain modifications of form and arrangement of parts will suggest themselves to the skilled operator and mechanic such modifications come well Within the spirit of my invention as disclosed and claimed, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown.

In the drawings, F1gure 1 1s a perspective A designates a standard or post which is suitably mounted on a base of frame 13. Slidably mounted on this standard is a small bracket C. This bracket is provided with an upwardly-projecting lug on which is pivotally mounted a bifurcated lever D, having two arms a rigidly secured to the rear end o f the lever, one on each fork and extending rearwardly, one of the arms passing on each side of the standard A, as shown. Swinging loosely in holes in each side of the bracket (1 are two yarn-guiding arms 6. These arms are comprised of rods having one end bent at right angles with the rod, and this end fits in the hole in the side of the bracket. Each of these arms 6 is provided with a hole near the outer end thereof, as shown at a, through which the yarn or thread passes on its way to the needles. Mounted on the top of the standard or post A is another bracket, E, and

secured thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom is a rod (Z, on which are'mounted two pulley-wheels F.

G designates two rock-shafts turning in suitable bearings in the bracket E, and near the forwardend of each shaft a plurality of fin- These gers e are rigidly mounted thereon. fingers are preferably three in number and are arranged side by side in the same manner as the tines on a fork, and underneath these fingers and rigidly secured to the bracket E are two outwardly-projecting fingers or arms L, each having a shorter prong j projecting downward therefrom and disposed at an oblique angle therewith and forming a slide for the yarn when it slips off the fingers e, the ob- 1 0 Fig. 5 is a diagram- 60 under spring tension when the tension on the ting the shaft to rotate in activity according the pulley-wheels F, and consequently over ject of these prongs being to deflect the yarn or thread from the fingers. On the rear of each of said shafts G a lever H is movably mounted. These levers are arranged on the shafts so as to extend directly over the pulleywheels F, one lever projecting over each wheel, as shown, and to the ends of these levers are secured chains f, one chain being secured to each lever. Suspended by these chains over the arms a are two U-shaped weights I, oneof the weights being attached to the end of each chain. Adjustably secured by a set-screw to each of the shafts Gr, near the rear end thereof, is a small lug or stud g, and between this lug and the lever H a spiral spring is arranged, one end of said spring being secured to the lever H and the other end being secured to the lug or stud g, the object of the lug being to regulate the tension on the spring, the spring being so arranged that when the fingers e are pulled down, thus turning the shaft G, around which the spiral spring is coiled, and also turning the lug, the spring becomes tighter and exerts more force in elevating the lever H, to which one end of said spring is secured. Another lug, J, is adjustably secured by a set-screw to the shaft G between the lug g and the end of the bracket. This lug is provided with an arm or pin j, which projects therefrom rearwardly and engages with the lever H, the object of the pin 1' being to limit the movement of the arm H shaft G is removed. The lever H, which is movably mounted on the shaft G, is actuated by the spring h. This spring being secured to the lug g also actuates the shaft G, and the lug J, carrying the arm or pin 2', being secured by set-screw on said shaft is also actuated by the spring by means of said shaft. When the yarn slips from the fingers from any cause, said fingers are released, permitto the strength of the spring. The weight 1 is pulling, according to its gravity, on the lever H, the tension of said spring h being against the weight. Secured to the rear of the bracket E and projecting rearwardly over the levers H, is an elevated rod or arm K, with which the said levers H come in contact when raised and are held in place, the object of said elevated arm being to permit the leof the dropping of the weights when any ohstruction appears in the yarn causing it to be pulled off the fingers e.

M designates a bracket or member which is secured to the bed-plate of a knitting-machine in any suitable manner. Pivotally mounted on this bracket is a small lever is, the bracket and lever being arranged to turn on the pivotal screw on. This lever is and the bifurcated lever D are connected by means of the rod N which is pivotally mounted or fulcrumed on both of said levers.

In operation the yarn or thread 0 is passed from the bobbins R through the holes a in the arms I), thence alternately over the lingers (2 and under the fingers L in front of the short prongs is, as shown, and thence to the needles. When the needles are working, the yarn or thread is drawn taut, and this action depresses the lingerse, which intermesh with the lower fingers L, the said fingers L passing through the spaces between the upper lingers e. The fingers 0 being rigidly secured to the rock-shaft Gr cause the same to turn in the bearings when the said. fingers are lowered. The turning of the shaft causes the lug g, which is adjustably secured thereto by a setscrew, to turn, and one end of the spring It being secured to the lug the tension upon the spring is thus augmented. The other end of the spring is secured to the lever ll, and when the spring tightens by reason of the turning of the lug 9 it raises the lever so that the end thereof strikes the upwardly and rearwardly projecting rod K and is there held in place. The chains f being secured to the ends of the levers H are thus raised, and with them the weights I, which otherwise rest on the arms a, and this permits the forward end of the bifurcated lever D to fall slightly. By means of the rod N the rear end of the lever in is depressed, thus raising the forward end thereof. When a knot, tangle, bur, or other defect appears in the yarn or thread, it will not pass through the holes 0, which are only large enough to admit of the free passage of the yarn or thread; but stopping causes the yarn to draw taut enough to depress the lingers 0 until the yarn slips off the ends thereof and is deflected from the lingers by means of the shorter prongs 7'. This releases the lingers c and the weights 1, by means of the shaft G and the lug J pull the levers down so that the weights drop upon the arms a, causing them to be depressed. This action raises the forward end of the lever l), which raises the rod N with it. The rear end of the lever Z: being secured to the rod N is consequently raised, and this lowers the forward end of said lever, bringing it into contact with a lug m or other suitable projection on the camsurface of the machine, which said cam-surface is on the power-shaft. The cam-surface being in motion and revolving on its axis, the contact of the lever k with the lugs or projections thereon causes the bracket M to be thrown around on its pivotal screw m. The arm n on said bracket engages with an upwardly-projecting lug or pin Q, on the end of the link which is connected with the bellcrank lever 0. This bell-crank lever is connected with a belt-shifting device q. \Vhen the forward end of the lever Z: is turned by being brought in contact with the lugs on the cam-surface of the machine, as aforesaid, the

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arm -oi engagingw-itlrthe lug orpin Q, causes the-bell-crank lever to be operated byv means of the'connecting-link p, and'the belt-shifting device being operated. by said bell-crank lever pulls the-belt Roffof the revolving. belt wheel: ontothe loose pulley P, where it continuesto revolve w-ithout'mov-ing theneedles. The belt-shifting device is provided w-itha handler as a means whereby the belt may be thrown back to its normaltor operative position.

Having thus described l my said invention, whatiI: claimas-n'ew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In astop-motionmechanism for textilemachines, the combination. with means for stopping the machine, of pivotally-mount'ed fingers operatively connected therewith and adapted'to be held, while inoperation, byv the tension of the yarn, fixed fingers provided with downwardly and outwardly-projecting prongs adapted to throw theyar-n outward when the' piv-otally-mounted fingers are (le pressed by any'increased tensionof. the yarn anddischarge it from the fingers, and yielding means for operating said fingers.

2. In a=stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine,.of a rock-shaft: journaledin asuitable support and provided with an -arm:and with fingers constituting in effect a bell-crank lever, other fingers fixed in the support and-adapted to intermesh with the movable fingers which are held in that posie tion by the tension of the yarn, downwardly andoutw-ardly projecting prongs secured-to the fixed fingers and adapted tot'hrow the yarn outward when said movable fingers are depressed by any increased tension of the yarn thus removing the yarn from beyond the reach of such fingers-a connection between the arm and the means for stopping the ma--,

chine whereby the separation of the two sets of fingers will effect the stopping'of the ma.- chine, and yielding means tending to separate the fingers against the tension of the yarn whereby an interruption in the feeding'of"v the yarn will release the fingers andstop the machine.

3. In a stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a rock-shaft journaled in aflsuitable support and provided with anarm andwith fingers constituting in effect abell-crank lever, other fingers fixed in the support and adapted to intermesh withthe 'inovable fingers whichare held in that position by the tension of the yarn,.a connection between the arm and the means for stopping the machine, a guide forv the yarn so formed as to interceptthepassage of any obstruction, means tending to separate the fingers against the tension of the yarn, and means for discharging the yarn betw een the fingers whenever aninterruption occurs inthe feeding of i the yarn wherebyfthe fingers are allowed I to separatev resulting -in the stopping of the machine.

4. In a stop-motionmechani'sm for textilemachines, the combination, with means for stopping the machine, of: pivotally-mounted fingers operative'ly connected therewith and adapted to be held undercontrol. by the tension of the yarn, fixed fingers provided with means for discharging the yarn fromthemovable fingersw-hen the tension is increased, and yielding meansiadapted to operate the pivotally-mountedfingers.

5.. Ina stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines,. the combination with means forv stopping the machine, of? a rock-shaftjournaledin a-suitable support,.an arm carried by said shaft and connectedtherewith, a spring connecting said arm withthe shaft in ayielding manner, a=connection between the-means for stopping the machine and'the arm, fingers carriedby the shaft and movable therewith, otherfi ngers fixedsin-thesu pport, the two sets of fingers being adapted to receive the yarn andto be held together thereby, yield i ng means tending to separate the members against the tension of the yarn whereby. aninterruption of the feeding'of the yarn will releasethefingers permitting-the rock-shaft to stop the machine.

6. Ina stop-motionmechanism for textilemachines,-. the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a rock-shaft journaled in a: suitablesupport, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, aspring eflectinga yielding'connection between the arm and-the shaft, a lugcarried by theshaft-and limiting the movement of the arm, fingerscarried by, and movable with, the shaft, other fingers fixed to the support, the two sets of fingers adapted-to intermesh and to beheld in that position by the yarn, yielding means tending to separate the fingers, and a connection between the arm and the means for stopping the machine whereby an interruption in the feedingof the-yarn will rock theshaft and stop the machine.

7. In astopmotionmechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine,.of arock-shaft jour naled in a suitable support, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring effecting a yielding connection between the arm and the shaft, means for regulating the tension ofthe spring, a lugadjustably mounted on the shaft and arranged to limit the movement of the arm,.fingers carried by andmovablewith the shaft, other fingers fixed in the support, the two sets of fingers adapted to intermesh and to be heldin that positionby the yarn, yielding means tending to separate the fingers, and a connection betweenthe arm and the means for stopping the machine whereby an interruption in the feeding of the yarn will-rock the shaft and stop themachine.

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- @QPY shaft, other fingers fixed in the support, the

two sets of fingers adapted to intermesh and to beheld in that position by the yarn, yielding means tending to separate the fingers, a guide for the yarn so arranged as to intercept any obstruction therein and to withdraw the yarn from the fingers permitting them to separate, and a connection between the arm and the means for stopping the machinewhereby an interruption in the feeding of the yarn will rock the shaft and stop the machine.

, 9..In a stopmotion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine comprising a lever, of a rock-shaft journaled in a suitable support, an

' arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring effecting a yielding connection between the arm and the shaft, means for regulating the tension of the spring, a lug adjustably mounted on the shaft and arranged to limit the movement of the arm, fingers carried by and movable with the shaft, other fingers fixed in the support, the two sets of fingers adapted to intermesh and to be held in that position by the yarn, yielding means tending to separate the fingers, a guide for the yarn so arranged as to intercept any obstruction therein and to withdraw the yarn from the fingers permitting them to separate, and a connection between the arm and the means for stopping the machine whereby an interruption in the feeding of the yarn will rock the shaft and stop the machine.

10. In a stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a lever, a connection between one arm of the lever and the stopping .means, a rock-shaft journaled in a suitable support, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring effecting a yielding connection between the arm and the shaft, a lug carried by the shaft and limiting the movement of the arm, fingers carried by and movable with the shaft, other fingers fixed to the support, the two sets of fingers adapted to intermesh and to be held in that position by the yarn, yielding means tending to separate the fingers, and a connection between the arm and the means for stopping the machine whereby an interruption in the feeding of the yarn will rock the shaft and stop the machine.

11. In a stop-motion mechanism for textile- .machines, the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a lever, a connection between one arm of the lever and the stopping means, a rock-shaft journaled in a suitable support, fingers carried by the shaft and adapted to receive the yarn, an arm carried by the shaft, a weight suspended from the arln and tending to rock the shaft, and to bear upon said lever whereby an interruption in the feeding of the yarn will release the weight and operate the lever to stop the machine.

12. In a stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a lever pivoted in a suitable support with one of its arms in operative relation to such stopping means, a second lever pivoted in the other arm of the first lever with one of its arms so arranged as to be capable of being brought in the path of a moving portion of the machine, a rock-shaft journaled in a suitable support, an arm carried by the shaft, a connection between the arm and the last-named lever, fingers carried by the shaft and adapted to 'eceive the yarn, yielding means tending to rock the shaft against the tension of the yarn whereby when the tension of the yarn is removed the shaft will rock and operate the levers to effect the stopping of the machine.

13. In a stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a lever pivoted in a suitable support with one of its arms in operative relation to such stopping means, a second lever pivoted in the other arm of the firstnamed lever with one of its arms so arranged as to be capable of being brought into the path of a moving portion of the machine, a rock-shaft journaled in a suitable support, an arm carried by said shaft, fingers carried by the shaft and movable therewith, other fingers fixed in the support, the two sets of fingers adapted to intermesh and to be held together by the tension of the yarn, an arm carried by the shaft, a weight suspended from the arm and tending to rock the shaft and separate the fingers against the tension of the yarn and then to bear upon the last-named lever whereby an interruption in the feeding of the yarn will permit the operation of the levers and stop the machine.

14. In a stop-motion mechanism for textilemachines, the combination with means for stopping the machine, of a lever pivoted in a suitable support with one of its arms in operative relation to said stopping means, a second lever pivoted in the other arm of the firstnamed lever with one of its arms so arranged as to be capable of being brought into the path of a moving portion of the machine, a third lever pivoted in a suitable support, a connection between the two last-named levers, a rock-shaft journaled in the support, fingers carried by the shaft and movable therewith, other fingers fixed in the support, the two sets of fingers adapted to intermesh and to be held in that position by the tension of the yarn, prongs carried by the fixed fingers in such relation as to deflect the yarn from the fingers upon an increase in the tension, a guide so arranged as to intercept any obstruction in the yarn, an arm carried by the shaft, a spring effecting a yielding connection between the arm and the shaft, a lug limiting the movement of the arm relative to the shaft, a weight suspended from the arm and tending to rock the shaft and separate the two fingers against the tension of the yarn, the relation of the weight to the last-named lever being such that as the shaft is rocked the Weights will bear upon the lever whereby an obstruction in the yarn will serve to increase the tension, and release the movable fingers permitting the 5 shaft to rock and the stopping mechanism to be brought into operation by means of the levers.

Intestimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS W. TUSTIN.

- Witnesses:

J AMES NEMECEK,

JEREMIAH BREISCH. 

